The Norwegian Government has continued to press forward with legislation to ban payments handling online poker and internet gambling transactions, UIGEA-style.

The government has formally submitted its proposed ban for a parliamentary vote, reports Gambling Compliance. The proposed ban, which widens the Norwegian definition of the offence of ’mediating’ bets, has already attracted widespread concern, pro and con.

The European Commission in Brussels continues to heap criticism on Norway’s proposed ban, while negative local press demonizing online gambling websites is calling for further ISP blocking measures to be introduced in Norway.

One of Norway’s senior legal advisors predicts that the proposed US-style UIGEA ban will end up in the courts of the European Court of Justice, should it be approved by parliament.